We will uncover our own dirt: we've all had some mishaps along the way. Nigel tracked a few things into the bedroom, and then Gimlet likes to roll in filth and run into her crate and Sam... Sam is familiar with the phrase "Clean-up on Aisle 4!"

Joe the Cat sometimes jumps off his place on the kitchen pass-through and meanders on the kitchen counter until apprehended. Time for Mrs. Meyers and her counter top spray.

We use her laundry and household products and our little souls are all the cleaner and better for it. And yes, yes, yes ... she carries "pet products." The wipes, the air freshener, the stain remover ... we leave you to your imagination there. Let's not linger on pets and their little quirks.

Has anyone made any backroom deals with us? Why are we writing this? We pass it along because we think you might benefit. There's also the very large consideration that Mrs. Meyers has a policy of absolutely NO ANIMAL TESTING for any of their products. No bones crossed paws and no jobs are in the offing. (Although if Mrs. Meyers has any vermin in her factory, Gimlet will gladly lend her services.)

Now, if only she would develop a "Wet Dog" scent ... wouldn't that be a top seller!

March 26, 2008

Editors note: We're thick with owls and vowels this year. It was one of our resolutions for 2008: get a food critic, and make it an owl. Not only do they know their grub, they can usually be relied upon to try something different. Orson Owelles is of the Screech persuasion and lives in the vicinity of our Druid Tree.

"Owl, wise and old, seeks good food."

That's my credo. I'm a raptor and I know good grub. The freshness, taste, value and communal nature of a dish or a meal are on my radar.

The Culinary Sherpas, Greg and Michelle Baker, write a food column for a nearbylargemetropolitandaily and they also run a personal chef service. They're Sherpas who blog and carry tales. Is that a Tibetan thing?

Last week I flew over to that nearbylargemetropolitandaily and sampled some of their work. The Sherpas were nice enough to invite a few Flavorites to lunch, their treat, and I tagged along.

Those Sherpas are passionate about their food and their work, or I can't see straight.

They served up risotto with mascarpone, peas and cracklin' with lavender-infused salt. My wings spread in silent applause. And then, and then ... the killer: braised chicken with carrots, onions, celery, porcini mushrooms, fennel, white wine and fresh thyme. The sauce was a reduction of the braising liquid and just a tad wicked.

That chicken was falling-off-the-bone tender. And you have to know, I love things that fall off bones.

I liked the Sherpas. They didn't bat an eye when I popped up. Not everyone is so understanding of owls at lunchtime. They expect us to appear at night, for some reason. Owls eat lunch, too.

You can find the Sherpas at their web site, Culinarysherpas.com . Note that they have a dog and a cat.